A Beneficial Break

I had the most fantastic day today for several reasons, with the main one being that Szilveszter and I went to Seaworld. I have been to Seaworld before, but not for ages, and it was wonderful to be there again. I was so excited to see all the animals, the polar bears and the dolphins in particular, and was extremely impressed with the shark tank. 'Tank' is probably the wrong word for it. Shark realm is probably more like it. When you looked at it from underneath, through the glass, it seemed to stretch on forever. The constant movement of the fish and rays amongst the regally slow sharks was absolutely mesmerising, and the small distance between us and the animals behind the thick wall of glass was unnoticable. We stayed watching the sharks for ages, there was simply so much to see. Szilveszter adores sharks, and was fascinated by their movements and grace; I, on the other hand, couldn't tear myself away from the dolphins, much to Szilveszter's chagrin. We didn't see everything, and we only saw one show, so there's so much more to see when we visit again, thanks to the Q150 passes Szilveszter got for us.


Today was a refreshing escape from all the petty little things that bring you down in everyday life. In the afternoon and evening, when we returned from Seaworld, we went shopping, and then had dinner at my house. I found that I was in a much better mood than I have been for a long time. And what's more? I even got a little bit of a tan! (If you squint and tilt your head to the left...I don't look SO much like a vampire anymore!) All I needed was a little bit of a break to get back on top of things, and I have!

I'm looking forward to catching up with my Boost friends this weekend for dinner, and going to a retro night on Friday with my old primary school friends and Jess. Throw in a few assignments and that's what I have planned for the rest of my week.

Excited about Catching Fire's release! The sequel to The Hunger Games, I cannot wait to read it.
Reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and realising that, following the odd looks I got on the bus to uni (by some people reading Twilight, no less) and after approximately ten years of doing so, it may be time to stop reading Harry Potter in public places.
Very thankful for my boyfriend Szilveszter. He is my best friend and one of the only people with whom I can truly relax; time spent with him is time treasured.
Appreciative of a day off. With work and study and study and work and uni and study and gym and - did I mention study? - and everything else in between, a break is the most precious luxury you can afford yourself. Normally I like nothing better than to plonk myself in an armchair with a cup of tea and a lengthy novel (a guilty rarity, however), but being away from everything today was just perfect. I can't wait to visit the polar bears again. :)

Hoping you can take a break soon too,
claire.x

My week so far has been fairly quiet, most likely owing to the fact that the cold I've complained about in the last few posts will not surrender! I've caught up on some uni work, and spent some time with some friends, and during the week I had a day in watching movies with Szilveszter. We watched The Talented Mr. Ripley, which was reccommended to me by someone who knew my favourite novel was The Secret History, and once I'd watched it, the connection between the two was apparent. The Talented Mr. Ripley, to give you a quick rundown (as I think I'll be putting up a full review of the book when I finish it), is an unsettling story which takes place in panoramic Italy. Tom Ripley, surprisingly and excellently portrayed by Matt Damon (... ^_^ ...), is something of an impressionist. By chance, he one day impresses the father of a young, rich playboy (a young Jude Law, just in case Matt wasn't enough for you) named Dickie Greenleaf, and he is sent on a mission to retrieve the hedonistic Dickie from his Italian abode.

But once Tom arrives in Italy, he becomes enamoured with the life that Dickie leads, and Dickie's charmingly sweet partner Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). Oh, yes. And Dickie. Tom becomes obsessed with Dickie, and Dickie responds by seeking to put distance between the two. Tom reacts by killing Dickie in a brutal and savage fashion. From hereon in, The Talented Mr. Ripley becomes as complicated as another of Matt Damon's films, The Departed, as Tom takes on the identity of his obsessee, and continues on a chilling murderous streak in order to protect himself. Matt Damon absolutely enthrals as Tom Ripley. He is both repulsive, in that his obsessions are pathetic and needy, and endearing; his naivety and vulnerability, expressed separately from, and in conjunction with, his obsession, are charming. Ever since seeing Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting (and forever quoting "DO YOU LIKE APPLES?" for about the next week), I have been a loyal fan of his, but of all the films I have seen him in so far, I think he did the best job of Tom Ripley. If you liked The Secret History, this film is about as close as you'll get to cinematic portrayal of that hideous, creeping sensation which refuses to leave you after having closed Donna Tartt's wonderful novel. But let me stress that The Talented Mr. Ripley is its own piece, and was written long before the former.

So I'm currently seeking out an omnibus copy of The Ripliad, which is the title of the series of crime/mystery/psychological thrillers written by Patricia Highsmith featuring Tom Ripley. I have located singular copies in Borders, but because they're rather hard to find nowadays, they are quite expensive. Sigh. So onward with the search, perhaps the internet will be my saviour!

What a life I lead, I know! However, there are a few things coming up for me that I'm looking forward to, including Jason and Gracie's engagement party, and Riverfire with the girls from work (wait til you see the footwear that night... :p ).

Hope everyone else has had a lovely week.

Thanks for reading.

claire.x.

Feeling accomplished!

Just finished my first assignment for the semester (and I'm quite pleased with it, even if I did finish it on the day it was due!), and I feel rather accomplished, even though there is a mountain of other stuff I need to move onto rather soon.
It's been a lovely week so far. Szilveszter and I had dinner with Jason and Gracie Monday night; the boys ate two of the most enormous steaks I've ever seen, while Gracie and I wistfully discussed the need for expensive ballet flats (and yes, I did say NEED). Tuesday and Wednesday were spent mostly in bed for me, unfortunately I've had a bad headcold this week. My doctor speculated that it was tonsilitis, but I sort of doubt it, it wasn't that bad. Just slowed the whole week down a bit. Thursday I worked the morning, but I think my ridiculously congested-sounding voice prompted the girls to offer to cover me, so I went home early. Well, actually I went to Gran's, and then, FINALLY, collected my iPhone. Then last night, prompted by my parents, I brought Daisy with me to Szilveszter's soccer game. As I said to the girls there last night, I believe that I may be acquiring a reputation for being a Crazy Dog Lady, as I have been seen at various soccer events with a total of three different dogs now. I can hardly deny it, really...but then, if that's on record as my worst quality, I definitely can't complain! :p

After soccer, Szilveszter, Daisy and I went to dinner and a photo-showing at our friends', Emma and Greg's. Daisy was certainly well-received there, but, despite my best efforts, apparently insisted upon leaving a twenty-cent coin-sized surprise for her hosts after we'd left.

Unfortunately I haven't really been reading too much lately, so I don't have anything much interesting to report. Envy, the third installment of The Luxe series, was brilliant; if you felt a bit disappointed by Rumours, then definitely still stick Envy out. I've been re-visiting Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in light of the movie; a reminder to everyone (if there is still anyone?) who just watched the movies and never read the books - you're missing out!

Hope everyone's having a good week too. Has anyone seen My Sister's Keeper? Is it worth seeing?



claire.x.

It's a mess. It's a start. It's a full work of art.

Take back the city for yourself tonight
Or I'll take back the city for me

Take back the city for yourself tonight

Whoa

God knows you put your life in two a times

And it's both cradled you and crushed

But now it's time to make your own demands

Whoa

All these years later and it's killing me

Your broken records in words

Ten thousand craters where it all should be

Whoa

No need to put your words into my mouth

Don't need convincing at all

I love the place where I have no doubts

Whoa

It's a mess, it's a start

It's a full work of art

You're a save, you're a call

Every crack, every wall

Make a sign, make a fight

Get your head, it's not right

We can sing, 'til you drop'

Cause the fun just never stops

I love this city tonight

I love this city always

This song, you probably recognise, is Snow Patrol's Take Back the City. Kristy had it on a CD she made for work, and it's been stuck in my head all weekend. It makes me think about place, and the way that surroundings can shape you. The city, for me, is Brisbane, pictured above. Some talented photographer managed to capture the colourful movement of Brisbane at nighttime, and made it appropriately lovely. I love the bridge that holds together the casual, natural (although in reality not so at all) vibe of Southbank and the structural aesthetic of the city. I love the Arbour in Southbank, which has blossomed into the canopy of colour it was intended to over the course of my high school life. Remember when the Arbour was nothing but intimidatingly bare steel, curved to unnervingly sharp points?

Going to school at State High, which is adjacent to South Bank, meant that I spent a great deal of my time after school trawling the book stores in the city. I especially loved Archives on Charlotte Street, and used to go there when it was raining, for some reason. It had an oddly old-world type feel. I think they've changed that back room, with its archaic chairs, now. Sadly.

I've spent many afternoons with Szilveszter wandering around the Southbank markets, pretending that perhaps there's something new this time, but always coming back to the same horrible cane toad wallets. For me, there's always a sheepish feeling when I arrive at Southbank, as though I'm not really meant to be there. A remnant from many illicit periods spent by the river from 2003 - 2007, perhaps.

Oh, the river. It's horrible, by light of day, is it not? The most hideous shade of acid green, dotted with the faded City Cats (which, incidentally, my mother always points out with too much interest, as though they are a rare and endangered animal - "Oh, look, everyone, a CityCat!" - and as if we haven't been seeing and riding them since before we could register for a ticket) and probably a collection of rubbish thrown from over the bridge. We all know there are, famously, hammerhead sharks in there, though I've never heard of anyone seeing one for an absolute AGE, and someone once told me, or I read it online, that there was once a cow's carcass found in there. Horrible. However, when night falls over our humble city, the river transforms from puce to jet black, and reflects with stunning clarity, the colours of the city it divides.

Recently, when I was on the new Brisbane wheel with Jess, the casino was lit up in an electric shade of magenta for support of breast cancer. The river mirrored this, as well as the luminousity of the usual street lamps and the lights from the suddenly graceful overpass. I was impressed with the river's ability to be both hideously polluted (is it actually?) and elegantly beautiful all in the space of twenty four hours. It makes the line, "I love this city tonight" all the more appropriate!

It is a mess - so many different atmospheres, all lumped together like a house with endless extensions. The class and old-fashioned sophistication of The Regent, say, compared with the pristine modernity of Broadway On the Mall.

It's a start - it represents to me the start of my relationship; my first day with Szilveszter as a couple, I spent with him in the city and Southbank. The start of friendships, solidified over chai lattes and a shared interest in literature at Borders.

It's a full work of art. Whether you shop, work, live, party, trawl, eat, read, or travel in the city, there's something beautiful about it that I'm sure you'll notice. The pieces that each of us identify as being beautiful combine, of course, to prove that this city, and probably every city, is a full work of art.

claire.x.

Short and sweet.

I'm currently utterly engrossed in The Picture Of Dorian Gray. I'm only about a third into it (I tend to read the classics a fair bit slower...it's a big change from my usual teen fiction, sadly), but it's entirely compelling so far. The characters are intruiging, and each in their own way somehow dangerous. Dorian, at the point I'm up to currently, is enchanting. Lord Henry is frighteningly persuasive, and Basil, the artist, is sort of pathetic, and fairly transparent. Wilde fully intended this; I think he's applied carefully separated aspects of his personality and self to the trio. If you know anything about Wilde's history, you'll see, then, that disaster is probably intended to befall all three. Well, I'll keep you updated, anyway!

I've had a fairly busy weekend that was, guiltily, devoid of uni work. I'll have a lot of catching up to do this week. Saturday I worked, and that night, Jess and I went out to the city with some of my old friends. It was great to have a catch up! I skillfully (or luckily) avoided a hangover for work today. Saw a few friends, incidentally, throughout the day, as is the Garden City way. I often think that those of us who are (willing, or unwilling) participants of the Garden City community sometimes bypass its quaintness. How many specialty shops can you walk past without throwing a wave to one of the staff that you have worked with before, or perhaps is a regular at your own store? Honestly, we're like the Westfield version of Stars Hollow.

Watch this space...

I'm having a lazy afternoon reading and playing with the animals, and I've been trawling Blogger and seeing some other beautiful blogs made me want to change a few things about mine. The themes, the look of it, the way people see it...so watch this space. ;)
x.

This is Daisy, our new puppy (previously referred to as Evie). She is the sweetest ball of fluff in the world, and she's just tiny. She fits, in her entirety, in one of my palms. Szilveszter's hands absolutely engulf her! This picture doesn't really do her justice; it was difficult to get her to sit still long enough for me to take the photo, but this is the one that came out best. We decided to name her Daisy, instead of Evie, because it's far more fitting, not in the least because when she characteristically stumbles, we all chant, "oopsy daisy!". Her feet are roughly the size of five cent coins, and they never seem to go in the way she wants them to, so she does tend to fall over quite a bit. She's also very young, only just six weeks. Bella was about two months old when we first got her, but her feet were about egg size! The other animals in this house, Rosie and Murray, have had mixed emotions, it seems, about Daisy's presence. Spoilt-rotten Rosie was green-eyed for the first day or two, and then she realised that she wants to mother her. Murray, our Russian Blue cat, wasn't so excited. He's harder to read, being the first cat we've ever had, but he definitely needs some extra care while he's getting used to Daisy.

Last night Szilveszter and I joined a new gym; it's Jetts, in the Village near my house. It's within walking distance to me, and has a great atmosphere, silly as it sounds. I'm really excited about it, because its proximity to me means I'll hopefully have the motivation to make use of it. I instantly liked the place, so I'm hoping to spend a bit of time there this week.

Still getting back into the swings of things at uni; today I can't go in, I have a dastardly cold, and I'm a little worried about falling behind. But I have the whole day to catch up. :)

As you could probably guess if you've been reading my blog lately, I've been fairly stressed recently. A few things have been weighing on me, and with so much going on, sometimes just the smallest obstacles can affect the balance in your life drastically. This week, though, things have definitely picked up, and I've found positivity in the most unlikely of places. For example, an article in a magazine which was lying around my house, of all things, made me feel really lucky to have a stable job and a secure amount of savings, be debt free, and working toward a degree, as well as to have several close friends, and the most wonderful boyfriend, whose influence helps to overcome anything.

I thought I'd share with you one of the infinite life lessons that Harry Potter has taught me (really, you must expect that I'm this attached to these books, I've been constantly reading one of them at all times since I was ten). Yes, it is a bit sad, though. But anyway!
Do you remember what the class was taught by the insightful Professor Remus J. Lupin in relation to dealing with the Boggart, the shape-shifter which is guaranteed to take on the shape of your greatest fear?
Laugh at it. (Riddikulus!).

Thanks for reading!
claire.x.